The immigration authorities in Quebec have implemented a new regulation that restricts the degree to which one foreign national can accept invitations in the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) from any single country, not more than 25%. Immigration Minister Jean François Roberge made the announcement on October 9.
This program is in effect from October 9, 2024, to October 9, 2025. For each round of selection held by the immigration ministry of Quebec, the percentage of invitations issued to applicants coming from any one country will not exceed 25%.
Roberge said this policy aims to have more diversity in economic immigrants who will settle their residence in Quebec. He added that the country of origin diversity decreased significantly compared with the Regular Skilled Worker Program applicants in 2024.
The Quebec government has specified that this policy relates to the Regular Skilled Worker Program currently but may relate to the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) when that program will be launched. Officials also said that the new regulation is unlikely to cause any shift in the proportion of the French-speaking recipients in the invitations.
Regular Skilled Worker Program Quebec Insights
Skilled migration to Quebec is unique from other provinces and territories in Canada. Applicants who want to migrate to Quebec have to first express interest in settling in Quebec by putting forward an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the pool referred to as Arrima. The province uses a number of factors when assessing applicants:
- Age
- Education
- Language skills
- Work experience
- Family composition
- Job offers
- Family ties in Quebec
Under the scoring system for the Regular Skilled Worker Program, one gets much more points for competence in French than in English.
The Quebec government invites the top-ranked candidates from the pool, who then apply to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) through the Mon Project Quebec portal. If approved, the candidate receives a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which will be needed to subsequently apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.
